Tell DPI: Don’t Take Away Teachers’ Rights

January 17, 2018

In response to changes in the state budget agreement, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is proposing an overhaul to the state’s teacher licensure laws, threatening to undermine teachers’ rights in the process. DPI’s proposed provisions for limiting teacher rights create sweeping changes to disciplinary action, granting almost unlimited, unchecked discretion to school administrators over educators’ careers.The proposal creates a broad category called “boundary violations.” As vague as this terms is, if a supervisor decides that a teacher has crossed a “boundary” it could cause an educator’s license to be revoked. If that isn’t bad enough, DPI’s proposed changes also:

Reward teachers for informing against other teachers

Allow DPI to suspend teachers with limited proof

Create new categories of offenses leading to license revocation. For example, a teacher who engages in more than one “boundary violation” could have her license revoked.

You can help stop this outrageous attack on teachers by :

Attending a DPI hearing this month

Telling DPI how you feel about the proposed changes through comment form WEAC has created to link members and supporters directly to DPI’s offices. The online comment form is available through January 31.

There are three hearings scheduled on the proposed rules in and near Region 6:

WEAC leaders and staff have researched and discussed the key provisions in the DPI’s proposed licensure overhaul. You can support WEAC’s recommendations and help stop DPI by commenting on the rules today.

WEAC advises the following:

Teacher Rights

WEAC Opposes

Creation of a broad category of arbitrary judgements called Boundary Violations that could lead to license revocation for things like:

· A teacher discussing her personal life with students;

· Talking with a student for a non-educational purpose; and

· Showing favoritism.

Allowing a teacher facing revocation who reports another teacher for Boundary Violations to get a lesser penalty, similar to deals made with criminal informants.

Expanding DPI’s authority from only revocation to include reprimands and suspensions.

Opening the door for license suspension for posing an ‘imminent threat,’ without explaining the type of proof required to provide proof of an alleged threat.

Creating categories of offenses for when the DPI may revoke a license, and when it must. Instead of only felonies as cause for revocations, vague offenses such as teachers who engage in more than on Boundary Violation are subject to revocation.

Requiring a teacher who has her license revoked to prove her case for reinstatement by a higher standard than the DPI uses to revoke it.

Requiring a teacher with a revoked license must wait five years before applying for reinstatement.

Licensure Changes

WEAC Supports

WEAC Opposes

Making 4 tiers of licensure to simplify & clarify ambiguity, providing that all current license holders

are grandfathered or given the option of expanding licensure in any or all forms as outlined in the changes.